81 Seat frame bolts replacments

[LannyL81]

Went to re-install the seats into my 81 and for some reason the front bolts on the driver's side are pretty much stripped out.

These bolts have a square flange on them and appear to be pressed into the seat frames.

Where do I get replacements at? Or do I just just a high grade bolt?

Thanks,
LannyL81

 

[bill81vette]

lanny,I think that they maybe part of the seat adjusters, you might want to try running a tap thru the bolt holes. you could also try using (if you can find it)is a helicoil,it used to come in its own package with a drill bit and a tap.and a 3-4 helicoils,you would replace the threads so that they are useable again!!!

good luck bill

 

[BMartinie]

Lanny,
If your 81 is like mine, it is a hex bold/lock washer threading through the seat frame rail into a square nut welded to the underside of the floor pan. If the square nut is stripped you could run a tap through it to clean up the original threads. If it is stripped beyond that point, drill it out to the next size and rethread it. The put in the new size hex bolt.

I replaced my bolts a few years ago with stainless steel.
Brian

 

[LannyL81]

Seat Rail bolts

Thanks for the replies....I realize I was not clear in my original posting. I am referring to the seat rail bolts...the ones on the driver's side that are attached to the seat rails. These go through holes in the floor and are secured with large captured nuts....at least this is what my 81 has??

The bolts are so stripped that after the first 1/4" they bolts diameter reduces...for most of the remained of the length. The nuts have nothing to thread onto. It appears that for some reason there was movement that caused these bolts to wear down. I tried re-threading them, but the die would almost slip past this area. The nuts would start fine but when they hit this reduced area, the would bind and start chewing up again.

I was able to press out the front bolts in the seat frames just using my vise and a socket. HOWEVER, the rear two were a completely different story. For these two I had to heat the bolts to red hot and then drive them out. Something was holding them in...could not see any signs of welding...looked like there was some type of glue or something....whatever, finally got them out.

I do not understand why the driver's side has bolts attached to the seat rails, whereas the passenger side has none...bolts just pass through the holes and thread into nuts attached to the floor pan. Why the difference??

I got some M8x1.25-25mm 10.9 bolts and flat washers to replace them with, was not able to find anykind of exact replacement. I may epoxy the bolts to the rails or I may just leave them loose. Makes putting them in a bit difficult as I need to hold the bolt head on the inside and also turn the nut under the car which is why I may epoxy them in. Not the same as whatever was used at the factory....man those were a PITA to get out.

On to the next project.

Lanny

 

[craig32]

Thanks Lanny, I feel much better now! I was also wondering why the (power) driver's seat had studs welded onto the seat rail and the passenger's seat had nuts welded onto the bottom of the floor pan with regular bolts going down. . . probably because they were made at two different places and the right hand didn't know what the left hand was doing.

Craig